The West News (West, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 48, Ed. 1 Friday, April 19, 1946 Page: 2 of 16
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live New Members Are Elected
To Champion Farmers Association
♦
By W. J. DRVDEN
WILLIAM F. RENK . . . With the
help of three sons he produced s3
carloads of food from his 850-scre
farm at Sun Prairie. W'is. Farm-
er Renk, former Wisconsin com-
missioner of agriculture, with the
able assistance of hit sons. Wil-
bur. Walter and Robert, last year
told more than 1,490,900 pounds
of beef, pork and lamb in addi-
tion to 25,000 bushels of hybrid
seed corn and 10,040 bushels of
Victoria oats and a carload of
wool.
J. D. McGEE . . . This champion
is an outstanding example of a
farmer who went heavily in debt
in order to succeed. He now op-
erates 2,300 acres of land at Mor-
gan, Ga. McGee's major cash
crop is peanuts, but he believes
in and practices a modern sys-
tem of versatile farming—raising
hogs, Hereford cattle, as well as
producing oats, corn and cotton.
Does not believe in putting ail of
his eggs in one basket.
THOMAS J. PEARSALL . . . .
Rocky Mount, N. C., is proud of
Manager Pearsall of the M. C.
Braswell Company Farms. He has
the job of operating a farm of
22,404 acres and supervising the
work of 1,100 men, women and
children who live and work on
the farm. Cotton, tobacco, corn,
lespedexa. hogs, beef and dairy
cattle as well as small grains are
produced by Tom Pearsall and his
family of 1,104.
WILLIAM RICHARDS . . . Bill
gave op a successful career as a
chemical engineer and racing car
driver to purchase a Cape Cod
dairy farm in 1941 at Forestdale,
Mass., and converted it into a
track garden. Born and raised in
Boston, he decided to become a
vegetable producer after suffer-
ing a serioas track accident.
Known as Veg-Aeres Farms, his
Ml acres include 123 acres of
broccoli. Like most scientists, be
leaves nothing to chance. Irriga-
tion. cold frames and modern
mechanised methods are utilised
by Raeer Richards.
WNU r>n SSIH
Five members have been admitted to agriculture’s most ex-
clusive organization, the Champion Farmers Association ot Amer-
ica. Representing all sections, and phases of farming, they prove
a living example that farming in America can be profitable and
honored. Their names will stand high on the roll of agricultural
fame, men of m^rit whose achievements win universal admiration.
The new members are William F. ♦—-- ■ ■■ ■ ■ -
Renk. Sun Prairie, Wis.; J. D. Mc-
Gee. Morgan. Ga.; Thomas J. Pear-
sall, Rocky Mount. N. C.; and cam-
era-shy William Gehrmg,' Rensse-
laer, Ind. (Ed. Note: No induce-
ment proved sufficient to Farmer
Bill, to secure his consent to pose
for a photograph.)
The nominations for this award
are made by farm leaders and elect-
ed by C.F.A.'s membership of agri-
cultural authorities—the awards are
presented by Firestone, which co-
operated in the founding of the as-
sociation in 1937.
Camera-shy William Gehring. who
wouldn't have his picture taken,
won his place by helping greatly
to bring the rich muck lands of
northern Indiana into heavy produc-
tion through the application of prop-
er fertilizer, irrigation, crop diver-
sification and highly mechanized
farming. On his farm at Rensse-
laer, Ind., his production of mint, of
which he sold more than $500,000
worth last year, has proven the
financial possibilities of this crop.
He also grows potatoes, sweet corn,
and onions on his farm of 4,000 acres.
Prior to 1931 he worked in a fac-
tory. Without farm experience he
went to the muck lands to overcome
their production problems and set
an example to others.
A Veteran Farmer.
William Renk is a veteran farmer
who has consistently followed a pro-
gressive policy. He emphasizes ef-
ficiency in every phase of farming,
with the aid of three super-helpers,
his sons. They are pioneers in arch-
type construction of farm buildings,
and their machine shop is a credit
to their ability. Seven tractors, self-
feeders, hay slides—and their abil-
ity to produce quality seed corn*-
hybrid—marks them as real pro-
gressive farmers. The Renks have
developed a direct sales demand
for their hybrid seed.
J. D. McGee started in 1928 on a
small farm—purchased with bor-
rowed capital. Last year his peanut
crop was worth $40,000. Soil con-
servation plays an important part
on his farm, as they must on any
farm that succeeds. He is a direc-
tor of the Georgia-Florida-Alabama
Peanut Growers' association, and
an authority on the economic prob-
lems of the industry. Congress has
heard with interest his facts and
figures on peanut production and
possibilities.
“Speed Richards”—they call Wil-
liam Richards. This not only ap-
plies to his farm operations but to
his former record as a racing car
driver. He started out by leasing a
tract near Providence, R. I. Later
Richards purchased his present
farm from earnings from the leased
tract—tenant farming may pay
well. He launched an extensive and
costly fertilizing program—essential
for this type of farming. A major
innovation was a large irrigation
system drawing on a lake as a wa-
ter source.
In Many Organizations.
Speed Richards takes an active
part in farm organizations. He is
a member of the governor’s advi-
sory council on agriculture, the Bos-
ton Market Garden association,
Town Finance oc.nmittee, Extension
Vegetable committee and Farm Bu-
reau. At 38 he has three daughters,
one son and a modern successful
highly mechanized farm.
Thomas J. Pearsall believes in
progressive plantation policies
which have attracted national at-
tention. He is not a farm owner,
but he manages the famous Bras-
well farms at Rocky Mount, N. C.,
containing 22,000 acres. Starting 10
years ago, he was considered “rev-
olutionary,” because he was a
strong supporter of education among
his Negro tenants and sharecrop-
pers. The result—labor turnover
greatly reduced and crop yields in-
creased. He installed mechanical
and technical innovations, such as
terracing and strip cropping. A
state representative and president
of the Agricultural Foundation, Inc.,
he is now raising two million dol-
lars for the farm research program
at North Carolina State college.
Tom has a wife and two sons to
aid him.
It is particularly noticeable that
the section of the United States in
which a farmer lives has little to do
with his ability to be a ^champion."
These five farmers come from New
England, the Mississippi valley, the
North and the South. The Amer-
| ican farmer can do his job in any
j state, or climate, when he sets him-
self to the task with a will.
Although the war is over, the
world needs food—meats, grains,
vegetables and fruit. But some-
how we all have the feeling that
the “champs" down on the farms of
America will see that few people
starve.
Georgia Boy Rose
From Buck Private
To 4-Star General
WASHINGTON.—He was bom In
Perry, Ga., in 1887, where his father
published the Houston Home Jour-
nal. As a boy he worked around
the newspaper plant but was more
interested in the Perry Rifles, a lo-
cal guard unit. Having heard his
parents speak of former members
of the Hodges’ family as Confeder-
ate soldiers in the Civil war, he was
determined to become a soldier.
He entered West Point in 1904 but
because of trouble with mathemat-
ics left the United States Military
academy and enlisted in the army
as an infantry private. In 1909 he re-
i ceived his commission as a second
j lieutenant, simultaneously with the
commissioning of his former West
Point classmates. Instead of spend-
ing three years at the Point, he be-
came an officer after service at
various infantry installations. His
early army career included service
GEN. COURTNEY H. HODGES
with General Pershing’s Mexican
Punitive expedition and the 6th In-
fantry regiment of the 5th division in
France, Luxembourg and Germany
in World War I.
He was appointed commandant of
the infantry school at Fort Ben-
ning, Ga., in 1940. He became chief
of infantry in Washington, was made
chief of the ground forces replace-
ment and school command when the
army was reorganized into ground,
air and service forces, and later
became commanding general of the
X army corps. He was assigned to
command the Third army, Fort
Sam Houston, Texas, in February,
1943. and served in this capacity un-
til March, 1944, when he was as-
signed to the First army in the Eu-
ropean theater of operations.
Assistant to Gen. Omar N. Brad-
ley when the First army took part
in the invasion of Normandy, cap-
ture of Cherbourg, and the break-
through at St. Lo, Hodges assumed
full command in August, 1944. He
paved the way for the Third army’s
and his famous First’s spectacular
lunges across France, was the first
into Paris, first into Germany, first
army commander since Napoleon to
cross the Rhine river in battle, first
to enter and clear out the Hurtgen
forest in the cold winter months,
and first to meet the Russians.
Among his higher decorations are
the Distinguished Service Cross and
the Silver Star from the first war
and the Distinguished Service Med-
al and an Oak Leaf Cluster for serv-
ices in the current conflict.
General Hodges presently com-
mands the First army with head-
quarters at Fort Bragg, N. C.
From private to four-star general
is a route any soldier would like to
travel—and Courtney Hicks Hodges
is one who did I And in future yeara
some of America’* highest ranking
officers will come from the ranks,
from among men who mada the
army a career.
Returned Veterans Are Good University Students
BOULDER, COLO. - He went
away to war—just a boy. He re-
turned as a man—and went back
to school. How’s he getting along?
"Fine,” says W. C. Toepelman,
director of veterans' affairs at
Colorado university. And, with few
exceptions, they asked no special fa-
vors because they were war vet-
erans.
There have been vets on the C. U.
campus since July, 1944, but the re-
cently concluded November, 1945,
term offered the first real chance to
study their achievements.
During the past term, 838 veter-
ans registered for credit under the
G.I. Bill of Rights and only 52
dropped out at the end of the term,
Toepelman said.
The reasons given by many of the
51 were illness, poor academic prog-
ress, nervousness and failure to ad-
just Some, however, dropped out
to re-enliet in the army, transfer to
another achool or take a job. Toep-
elman said a few married veterans
left school before registering for
the November term because tney
couldn’t find suitable housing.
The problem of adjustment? Toep-
elman said 55 vets solved that by
taking refresher course* without
credit during the November term
and then registering for credit dur-
ing the present term.
Washington Digest;
Push for Draft as Army
Recruitment Misses Mark
By BAUKHAGE
,Vm Anmlyil and Conuntntalor. *
WNU Sendee. 1414 Eye Street, N.W.,
Washington, D. C.
WASHINGTON. - Uncle Sam is
completing the biggest “help want-
ed” campaign in history and he’s
afraid it hasn't been a 100 per cent
| success.
When the tu-
rn u 11 and the
t shouting dies, the
| captains and the
! kings depart, the
men who served
their country
| “take up the
j plough-shares or
|the pen as a
I simple citizen
; a g a i n,” and
' somebody has to
! look around for
; more to make up
the peacetime army and navy.
That’s what Uncle has been doing.
Life on the bounding main has al-
ways had sufficient appeal, especial-
i ly to inlanders, to keep the navy up
! to par without much effort. But
Americans ordinarily just don’t go
! for soldiering, and that fact has the
I war department worried. It doesn’t
decide how big or little the army
must be. It gets its orders from
higher up. Such and such is Amer-
j ica's policy—the war department
j has to get enough pairs of sound legs
i and arms and enough cool heads
to carry it out.
Conscription has always been un-
popular. We don't even like to use
the word. But we have to get the
men. Hence the fight to extend the
draft and hence the greatest recruit-
ing campaign this or any other coun-
try has ever launched. The sum ex-
pended on this campaign is big,
even compared to the umount spent
to remind America of “the pause
that refreshes.” It was run like any
other advertising campaign, with a
selection of the media best suited
for its purposes. Newspapers, daily
and weekly, magazines, especially
those devoted to popular science,
billboards and radio, posters and
window displays were generously
used.
It did bring in 320,521 recruits but
that isn’t enough. And enlistments
have declined steadily from their
peak in November. That month
185,000 men either signed up or “re-
upped” as we used to say. But
watch the numbers shrink I Decem-
| ber, 131,000; January, 113,000; Feb-
; ruary, 93,000; March (estimated)
173,000; April, ??????
Seek to Better
G.I.i Lot
Besides this vigorous campaign a
real, sincere and sustained effort is
being made to improve the life in
barrack and drill-field. Hearings to
hear the G.I. gripes, with specific
plans to right wrongs where they
were found and can be corrected,
a thorough examination of army jus-
tice by civilian lawyers, selected by
the American Bar association, a
; 20 per cent pay increase, all these
are part of a plan furthered by Sec-
retary of War Patterson whose one
desire is to leave the army better
when he retires than the way he
found it.
But there are a lot of hurdles.
One is the need of a higher type of
soldier in these days of mechanized
warfare; the second is the increas-
ing standard of civilian wages with
which the army has to compete. The
automotive and '.he durable goods
industries are th,» chief competitors
and their pay is good.
However, there are intangibles
which enter into the question too.
A man has to have more than a de-
sire for clothes, a roof and three
sauare meals a day and no respon-
sibilities. To enlist he has to have
a'certain love for adventure, a will-
ingness to accept the hardships of
barrack life in far countries.
The army doesn’t really in its
| heart want the draft. It is a case
of taking what they can get. I know
of no officer who would not prefer
a volunteer army. That is another
intangible. But with the commit-
ments which the United States has
today and until a United Nations or-
ganization can be formed which can
take over the military function of
the separate countries, the need is
men.
There is something strange about
the opposition to extension of the
draft as revealed in the hearings.
In my personal contact* I have not
felt that opposition. By far the ma-
jority of people I have talked with
on my recent trips through seven
states have agreed that extension
of selective service was neees-
gary_some said a necessary evil—
but still necessary. One of the most
carefully conducted polls undertaken
by the National Opinion Research
center of Denver university has this
to say:
“A substantial majority of the
public In this country are convinced
that—in spite of the military impli-
cations of the atom bomb—the Unit-
ed States needs peacetime military
training. This conviction is evi-
denced by nation-wide survey results
just released by the National Opin-
ion Research Center, University of
Denver.
“To test the stability of public
.opinion on the . issue, NORC asked
separate but comparable cross-sec-
tions of the population two different-
ly worded questions, one stating an
argument against conscription in
view of the military implications of
the atom bomb, the other stating
an argument for conscription in
view of atomic implications. No
matter how the question is worded,
a strong majority favor compulsory
military training in this country.
“Even tlie anti-conscription word-
ing elicits a 68 per cent majority in
favor of military training despite
the atom bomb, while the pro-con- i
scription question elicits no more
than a 71 percent majority in favor j
of the idea.”
Some of the opposition to the !
legislation came from people who ,
were dupes .of what many officials '
believe to be subversive organiza- ;
tions. Some has been fostered by i
congressmen looking for votes.
At this writing, however, it seems
that common sense and patriotism
are going to come to Uncle Sam’i
rescue.
• • »
Cut German
Beer Supply
I-have just been in touch with the
state department and am able to
say, unofficially, but by no means
uncertainly, that the Germans are
not going to get a soft peace. I do
not refer to the plan for slicing Ger-
man industry to a very thin piece
or the renewed efforts at de-Nazi-
fication in the American zone. What
I am able to report is a step recent-
ly takfen which the Germans will un-
doubtedly consider cruel and un-
usual punishment.
They are not going to be allowed,
as they hoped they would be, to
brew beer. The United States gov-
ernment has ruled “nothing doing”
because of the food situation and j
“other reasons.”
For the precise data on the situa- j
tion 1 am indebted to my former j
colleague, the Western Newspaper
Union's correspondent, now in Ger- |
many, Pauline Frederick. Here it
is;
“The situation on brewing of beer
in the three other zones of Germany
is as follows, based on the reports
given us by the agricultural repre-
sentatives of these zones in Berlin:
"British zone—Brewing of beer
prohibited by military order.
“French zone—Brewing permitted
until the recent critical food short-
age stopped it.
“Russian zone—Brewing permit-
ted but no information is available
on the amount of grain being used
in the Russian zone for this purpose.
“The proposed brewing program
in the American zone requires 39.C00
tons of barley which will produce
about 25 per cent of the 1931 con-
sumption based on a 12-month peri-
od in our zone. The 1931 produc-
tion was the lowest on record. No
coal is permitted for brewing pur-
poses until local food processing
needs have been supplied.
“Thirty-nine thousand tons of bar-
ley represents the breadgrain ra-
tion requirements of our zone for
approximately 10 days. The rela-
tive caloric value of 39,000 tons of
barley in the form of beer is 50.32
billion calories, or to put it another
way, one liter is equal to 100 grams j
of bread in caloric value.
“In the brewing process as com- j
pared with the utilization of barley
for bread approximately 20 per cent
of the food value, of barley is lost.
"The whole question of brewing
beer in our zone is a big political
one and promises have been made
by the minister-presidents and di-
rectors of agriculture that this beer
would be forthcoming in the spring
months when farmers and workers |
can have it in the heavy working
season. The German authorities
have agreed that if the beer is made
it will not be issued as a supple-
ment to the present ration but will
be issued as a substitute for bread
based on its caloric value.”
Well, politics or no politics, the
Germans aren’t going to get thek
beer—let the foam fly where it may.
BARBS . . . by Baukhage
In my mall: "The case of Russia
versus Iran reminds me of what the
elephant said to the flea as they
were going into the Ark: ‘Quit your
shoving!'”
* • •
Reports of sun spot disturbances
make me wonder if perhaps Old Sol
disapproves of this business of
earthlings fooling with the atom. It
vouid be comic if it weren’t cosmic.
Another mail item clipped from
an English publication, circa 1620:
"What is a Communist? One who
has yearnings
For an equal division of unequal
earnings;
Idlet or bungler, or both, Tie is will-
ing •
To fork out his copper and pocket
your shilling.”
United Nation* of N. Y.t
New York is the breath-taking
stone and steel monument to th#
20th Century. It was erected by tha
brawn, brains and sweat of foreign-
ers and their descendant*. The
varied nationalities, religion* and
races have lived together In peace
and enjoyed the benefits of democ-
racy. New York is the striking real-
ity of the American dream. ... If
one great ci$y can be the living ex-
ample of the UN ideals—and if 48
United States can do It—to can the
United Nations. . . . New York rep-
resents the test-tube of the One*
World experiment.-Jf 8 million peo-
ple can accomplish that—billions
can. For the experiment has suc-
ceeded far beyond the wildest hope*
of starry-eyed dreamers and proph-
ets.
Our fabulous metropolis should be
an inspiration for visiting UN dele-
gates. Here is living proof of UN
ideals. The Big Town’s diversity of
creeds and nationalities would
amaze even many native New York-
ers. Every member of the United
Nations has contributed to its
myriad population, plus some na-
tions that aren't members. This is a
big city and a little world.
The British atmosphere of Ye Olds
English Chop Houses along Thames
Street. Many of them are replicas
of famed eateries in London. Th*g
feature wood-paneled walls, sepa-
rate stalls and are decorated with
early prints. The cuisine is simply
ripping, old boy. It is usually so
quiet there—you can hear a mon-
ocle drop.
The West Forties and Fifties havrf
a French population that is large
enough to form a true French Quar-
ter. Bastille Day and other French
national holidays are celebrated
here, and many restaurants serve
Gallic dishes. If you pass this sec-
tor — you can enjoy the sight of
stylishly - groomed mademoiselle^ •
living up to their reps as slick
chicks. Whew-la-la!
Every section of the planet is repj
resented in our incredible over-
grown hamlet. Among the foreign
colonies that thrive here are the *
Hindus, Persians, Mexican Indians
and Koreans. The Hindus and Per-
sians are for the most part prosper-
ous merchants and importers. . . ,
The mosque in Brooklyn attracts de-
vout Mohammedans. Most of the
Mohammedans in our town art
Turks.
The Estonians periodically hold
music festivals, at which many of
the men and women appear in the
Estonian peasant costume—aiyl
a good time is had by all. ... An
imposing edifice known as the Nor-
wegian Seamen’s Church is mania-
tained chiefly for Norwegian sailors.
It has always had its pastor select-
ed by church and governmental aw
thorities in Norway.
The East Side Armenian shops-*
holes-in-the-wall — feature copper
coffee urns, silver vases, ornate Vic-
torian lamps and mantel clocks and
an occasional porcelain shepherd-
ess. Priceless antique metalware^*
sold here as well as the shoddies*
machine-made articles.
After Czechoslovak!* became an
independent nation in 1918 many
Slovaks from downtown moved up
into the Czech quarter, and the two
groups have combined many of
their interests. Pride in their lan-
guages and traditions has prompted
them to maintain separate schools
where (after public school hours)
the children can be taught their
native speech and history. One of
the city’s most colorful spectacles is
the annual Decoration Day Czechig
Slovak- parade in native costume.
The Latin-Amerlcan colony on
Saturday nights is ative with ex-
citement. Dance dens are throbbing \
vrith rhumba rhythms. Watch these
lithe people weave fheir ball-bear-
ing torsos during the tantalizing
tempos. They make the rhumba a
fine art. r I
Famed Chinatown is packed with
more happy orientals than you can
find in Asia. Here are unique joss
houses where Chinese Buddhists,
worship. Shops hawk exotic herbs at
fantastic fees. And if you listen
closely, you can pick up the jive
lingo and swift patter of the a$
mond-eyed jitterbugs. f.
At the foot of Washington Street
you will appreciatedew York’s cos-
mopolitan rep. This is the Syrian
Quarter where newsstands feature
Arabic dailies. »
Turks, Armenians and Greeks also
make their homes here. Shops glit-
ter with vivid Syrian silks or rain-
bow hues. Coffee houses and confec-
tioneries of the Levantines add a
picturesque touch. Occasionally, you
can be startled by the sight of an
old man in a fez.
Little Italy's rollicking fiestas are
among the town'* wow scenes. The
streets are strung with lights, aruF
happiness gets a workout. The pet
pie sing and dance and toss inhibi-
tions to the winds.
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Webb, Leonard. The West News (West, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 48, Ed. 1 Friday, April 19, 1946, newspaper, April 19, 1946; West, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth589095/m1/2/: accessed June 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting West Public Library.